We arrived in Astoria West Boat Basin on Friday morning, pump out the holding tank (like pumping out a septic tank, but you do it a couple times a week and you don't have to dig for it), and get a slip for the weekend. A cruise ship is in town, so there's lots of pedestrian traffic on the pier. Someone takes a picture of me pumping out the holding tank. We pick up the supplies we had sent to the port, the riding sail and an outboard motor mount. We got the shore power hooked up and start filling the water tanks. I walk to Englund Marine supply to get some parts we need to get the inflatable dinghy up on the davits (hanging off the stern of the boat). Cindy stays with the cats, because they are still wigged from motoring in. Then Cindy goes to Englund for fibreglass and adhesives for her projects while I cat sit and get all the various devices charging. She gets going on her project, I walk up on the pier and find a fresh fish market. Salmon tonight.
Next day, engine maintenance. The engine leaks oil, so I mop out underneath it and try to find the source. Remember, I am a computer geek, not a mechanic. The oil pan seems to be on as tight as it can get. Perkins engines are notorious for rear seal leaks, but that doesn't look too much to be the case. For right now just keep topping up the oil and mopping up what drips out. And sail more, motor less. Shrimp cocktails for lunch, we get showers and start laundry. Another cruise ship is in town. After his shift a local host comes down to talk to us. He's also affiliated with the Astoria yacht club. Offers to take me to Safeway for provisioning, which I accept. Thanked him with a tot of port, sharing of stories, and a little guitar. We get the dinghy up on the davits and the outboard up on it's new motor mount. Cindy has removed the dodger, scrubbed it, and filled in the screw holes with epoxy. Shrimp salads for dinner. On the way down with the last load of laundry I dump three socks into the river. I get two back. I have weekend work to do on a client system, that goes well, then to bed.
Today, cats caused trouble most of the night so we sleep in to accommodate. Online chores and oatmeal in the morning, taking apart and cleaning blocks, pulleys, and sheaves so they run smoothly in the afternoon. This should help the raising and lowering of the sails. Several of the sheaves (the little wheel thingies in the pulleys) are cracked or eroded, so we'll have to get an order in for those. Still usable right now. We plot the next few days. Motor in to Warrenton tomorrow to get the battery in the EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) replaced. Probably spend the night, then work on boat handling in Astoria bay and anchor at Tongue Point until our next shipments come in. And take it from there.
"Cruising is fixing your boat in exotic places." anonymous.
"Honey, we've got to work on that 'exotic' part." Doug to Cindy
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